Ethiopian woman to stay in U.S. for good 2 years after arriving thanks to Portland family

Nearly two years to the day Yodit Derese arrived in Oregon, the Ethiopian native stands surrounded by the handful of people responsible for giving her a new life.

The once-disabled Derese is poised, she is grateful, and she is tearful. "I say thank you, God, for all these people in my life," she says. "I'm so happy to have this great family."

It's a sunny June Sunday in Portland, and the group has gathered at a party just for her. They celebrate the recently granted indefinite asylum that allows her to stay in the U.S. for good, culminating a three-year effort filled with uncertainty to improve her well-being and give her opportunities she would never have in Ethiopia.
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